What player(s) do you expect to break out this season?

[Joemailman]

That article is 4 months old, if they were going to get rid of Williams for salary reasons they would have done it by know. I also like how the article says Williams isn't even a top three secondary player for us and hinted at cutting him before cutting Woodson....how did that work out?

I don't think so. The only reason they would get rid of Williams is if the shoulder continues to be a problem. They'll want to give Williams as much time as possible to show he can get back to 2010 form. But if he can't, I don't think releasing him would be out of the question. It's not likely to happen, but under the right circumstances it could.

[RashanGary]

I don't think so. The only reason they would get rid of Williams is if the shoulder continues to be a problem. They'll want to give Williams as much time as possible to show he can get back to 2010 form. But if he can't, I don't think releasing him would be out of the question. It's not likely to happen, but under the right circumstances it could.

Makes sense.

[pbmax]

Could happen or they could ask for a salary reduction, though I am not sure if the Packers have pulled that before on vets in camp rather than in March. They need to do it before the week of the first game so his salary is not guaranteed.

Just remember that part time players with high salary numbers have been kept on the roster before, while everyone expected them to be cut loose (KGB).

[Brandon494]

Listen we just cut Woodson and even though I like House he is still unproven. So lets say we do cut Williams, that leaves us with Shields, Hayward, and House as our starting CBs. If any one of those guys goes down then we are left with Bush and possibly Hyde at depth. I'm sorry but in this passing league it would make absolutely NO SENSE to release Williams just to save money when we are a contending team. Now next season if he is still struggling with the shoulder then yes I could see him being released. You guys should know how TT runs the team by now.

[Pugger]

Listen we just cut Woodson and even though I like House he is still unproven. So lets say we do cut Williams, that leaves us with Shields, Hayward, and House as our starting CBs. If any one of those guys goes down then we are left with Bush and possibly Hyde at depth. I'm sorry but in this passing league it would make absolutely NO SENSE to release Williams just to save money when we are a contending team. Now next season if he is still struggling with the shoulder then yes I could see him being released. You guys should know how TT runs the team by now.

This.

[Smeefers]

I had no idea so many people were still high on Sam Shields. I remember telling JH that with how he was playing as a rookie, he had no ceiling at CB. Could be a great. Then I watched him crash and burn in his second year. Then his third year, he's not starting and the only reason he goes back in is because House got injured. He played well, but nowhere near where I'd hoped he'd be. I'm not saying he's bad, I'm just saying that perhaps there is no more to the guy. This is what we got, a good CB who has crazy closing speed and good hands. It's not a bad piece of the puzzle to have. I don't think anyone is suggesting that he's going to loose his starting position. All I'm saying is the same could very well be true with Hayward. He's a smart CB who seems to disappear in coverage and then come out of nowhere to mess up a play. I don't think he's ever going to have the physical traits needed to be a top CB, but that doesn't mean he can't be a good CB. I hope I'm wrong and he comes in next year running like lightning and jumping to the skylights, but I don't plan on it. With him, the only thing that is going to improve is his smarts. It's enough to have him keep his job, but not enough to consider throwing him against a #1.

[Brandon494]

House never won the starting job, he got injured in the 2nd preseason game last year. He was pushing Shields for the starting job but if you remember Shields was also having a strong training camp. Also with Shields he didn't play CB til his senior season in college so he was still learning the position when he came to GB. Yea he did have a sophomore slump but the whole defense played like crap that season. Unlike Shields Hayward doesn't run a 4.3 so people act like he doesn't have potential. I see a guy who in college played against the top teams in the nation in the SEC and still put up huge numbers even though he played for bad team in Vandy. Hayward might not have blazing speed but he has all the tools you want from a CB. Not saying he'll be our #1 CB next season but watching him play last season its not out of the question that one day he very well could be.

[Bretsky]

Listen we just cut Woodson and even though I like House he is still unproven. So lets say we do cut Williams, that leaves us with Shields, Hayward, and House as our starting CBs. If any one of those guys goes down then we are left with Bush and possibly Hyde at depth. I'm sorry but in this passing league it would make absolutely NO SENSE to release Williams just to save money when we are a contending team. Now next season if he is still struggling with the shoulder then yes I could see him being released. You guys should know how TT runs the team by now.

FIVE CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP post


STOP THE INSANITY; we need to keep T Williams on our team this year

[Cleft Crusty]

Listen we just cut Woodson and even though I like House he is still unproven. So lets say we do cut Williams, that leaves us with Shields, Hayward, and House as our starting CBs. If any one of those guys goes down then we are left with Bush and possibly Hyde at depth. I'm sorry but in this passing league it would make absolutely NO SENSE to release Williams just to save money when we are a contending team. Now next season if he is still struggling with the shoulder then yes I could see him being released. You guys should know how TT runs the team by now.

Deion Sanders couldn't tackle his own grandmother; As long as Williams can cover, the Packers will have plenty for him to do.

[HarveyWallbangers]

I had no idea so many people were still high on Sam Shields. I remember telling JH that with how he was playing as a rookie, he had no ceiling at CB. Could be a great. Then I watched him crash and burn in his second year. Then his third year, he's not starting and the only reason he goes back in is because House got injured. He played well, but nowhere near where I'd hoped he'd be. I'm not saying he's bad, I'm just saying that perhaps there is no more to the guy. This is what we got, a good CB who has crazy closing speed and good hands. It's not a bad piece of the puzzle to have. I don't think anyone is suggesting that he's going to loose his starting position. All I'm saying is the same could very well be true with Hayward. He's a smart CB who seems to disappear in coverage and then come out of nowhere to mess up a play. I don't think he's ever going to have the physical traits needed to be a top CB, but that doesn't mean he can't be a good CB. I hope I'm wrong and he comes in next year running like lightning and jumping to the skylights, but I don't plan on it. With him, the only thing that is going to improve is his smarts. It's enough to have him keep his job, but not enough to consider throwing him against a #1.

Shields was a surprise as a rookie and a real asset. He started off slow in tackling and in coverage his second season, but the coverage woes turned around during the season. The tackling was atrocious throughout. He was good in coverage and much improved in tackling last year. He's a good CB. He needed some adversity (and tough love) to deal with his major weakness. I think the light went off last year, and he'll be a good starting corner from here on out. He'll probably never be elite (with his athleticism, I wouldn't completely write it off), but the guy still has room for improvement. He's played the equivalent of a college career at corner now.

I'm excited about the future of Shields (provided he stays in GB), House (provided he stays healthy), and Hayward

[mission]

Shields was the best Packers CB in the second half of the 2011 season and second best on the team behind Heyward last year. He doesn't get enough credit and people will complain when he gets a big pay raise thinking he's not worth it.

[RashanGary]

Smeefers, I thought I really liked SS as a rookie, thought the sky was the limit. It was you (and rightfully so) who wanted to see more before you crowned his ass.

We'll see how it all blends together this year. If the deeper DL rotation along with the healthy addition of Perry, there's a chance our run defense gets significantly stronger up front. If that's the case, and Perry can really set a mean edge, we'll be able to play man defense without getting gouged in the run game.

If you ask SS to go out and just play man defense, he can be a stud. It's his zone defense that's holding him back IMO. Down the stretch there, Capers sort of went away from zone defense. We were mostly a man defense with 2 safeties over the top. Shields shines as a man defender. When he plays zone, this is something I notice, but he gets lost. Very, very lost.

[rbaloha1]

Deion Sanders couldn't tackle his own grandmother; As long as Williams can cover, the Packers will have plenty for him to do.

Not even close -- TW was also getting beat.

[rbaloha1]

FIVE CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP post


STOP THE INSANITY; we need to keep T Williams on our team this year

Not the way he is trending...

[rbaloha1]

House never won the starting job, he got injured in the 2nd preseason game last year. He was pushing Shields for the starting job but if you remember Shields was also having a strong training camp. Also with Shields he didn't play CB til his senior season in college so he was still learning the position when he came to GB. Yea he did have a sophomore slump but the whole defense played like crap that season. Unlike Shields Hayward doesn't run a 4.3 so people act like he doesn't have potential. I see a guy who in college played against the top teams in the nation in the SEC and still put up huge numbers even though he played for bad team in Vandy. Hayward might not have blazing speed but he has all the tools you want from a CB. Not saying he'll be our #1 CB next season but watching him play last season its not out of the question that one day he very well could be.

Excuse me SS was having a poor camp and picked it up at the end.

House was on the verge of starting but that stupid injury on ST ruined it.